The reform of EC competition law on vertical restraints has marked the beginning of the process of transformation of EC competition law in the late 1990s, in particular because of the adoption of a more compatible to neoclassical economic theory approach. Almost ten years since the adoption of Regulation 2790/99 and the vertical restraints guidelines, the European Commission has initiated a revision process and has published some proposals at this respect. The aim of this conference would be (a) to understand the process of the reform of EC competition law on verticals, (b) to provide some useful comparative insights, by looking to the most recent developments in US antitrust law on verticals as well as the most recent competition law practice in some Member States’ and selected jurisdictions and (c) to critically assess the proposals of the European Commission, by confronting them to recent economic theory and to legal practice.

The conference is of particular importance to the UCL community as it will honour Valentine Korah, professor emeritus of competition law at UCL and visiting professor to a number of leading academic institutions around the world. Professor Korah is an authority in EC competition law on vertical restraints and has published the leading monographs and commentaries on this topic.Read about Professor Valentine Korah

The conference will explore the topics of:

General aspects of the reform of Vertical Restraints

A retrospective and prospective of the vertical restraints reform

Internet distribution and vertical restraints

Tying/bundling

Resale Price Maintenance

Exclusive territories and parallel trade

Vertical restraints and the rise of retailer power: competition law and alternatives

Vertical restraints in national competition laws and international convergence

The conference gathers leading competition law academics and practitioners in the field of vertical restraints and, more generally, distribution practices from different jurisdictions. It would be particularly appealing to in house lawyers, private practitioners, academics, competition authorities’ officials and post-graduate students.

When & Where

Gower Street
London
,
WC1E

Organizer

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